Future technologies & enabling plasma Processes

RESEARCH

Building plasma science and engineering (PSE) research capacity in AL, including Low-Temperature Plasma (LTP) and space plasma science, in academic institutions and partners

INTERNSHIPS

Supporting undergraduate and graduate education, training, and research opportunities, and encouraging and enabling access to plasma physics

K-12 OUTREACH

Creating new educational and outreach resources and plans for  K-12 students and teachers, promoting plasma science and engineering (PSE) and general STEM

Ftpp initiative

The NSF EPSCoR Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) is a 10-member university and industry consortium. The project leverages Alabama’s laboratory and space plasma science expertise to contribute scientific knowledge, technologies, and workforce to Alabama’s aerospace, manufacturing, advanced materials, medical, bioscience, and agricultural sectors.

FTPP,alabama physics,plasma,plasma research,nsf,nsf epscor,internships,NSF EPSCOR FTPP,alabama,physics
Lead Institution: The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Principal Investigator: Dr. Gary P Zank
bama map
NSF EPSCoR Map

This image presents the collaboration among the partners.

events

What is plasma?

Plasma is a state of matter consisting of a collection of ionized particles, electrically neutral atoms, and molecules. It makes up more than 90% of the observable universe and underpins several high-tech manufacturing industries. Familiar forms of plasma include the sun, stars, lightning, neon signs, television screen displays, welder’s torches, and rocket exhaust.

313 Followers

NSF EPSCoR FTPP

Building research, education, economic, and workforce capacity through discoveries in space & lab plasma physics and creating innovative technologies.

Weekend trip recap! 🚀✨

Our International Space Weather Camp students took a break from lectures and projects for an exciting weekend exploring Florida!

The students visited The Kennedy Space Center, Universal Studios, EPCOT, Islands of Adventure, and ICON Park! 

Check out some of our favorite moments from the trip!🌎
☀️

#weekendtrip #orlando #ksfc #nsffunded #alabamaphysics
This summer, undergraduate students from universities across the Southeastern United States are gaining hands-on experience through the Regional Introduction to Plasma Physics (RIPP) Program. 🚀

The nine-week internship places students with industry and research mentors across Alabama, where they gain real-world experience, strengthen their STEM skills, and prepare for future careers in science and technology.

🌟 Meet the 2026 RIPP Interns! 🌟

✨ Josephine Chishimba
Computer Science student at Voorhees University
Mentor: Edmund Spencer

✨ Christa Cartwright
Aerospace Engineering student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Mentor: Laxman Adhikari

✨ Sajid Abdullah
Physics and Mechanical Engineering student at The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mentor: Rento Camata

✨ Nishant Chaudhari
Physics and Mathematics student at the University of Southern Mississippi
Mentor: Lingling Zhao

✨ Siata Ouattara
Biology student at Allen University
Mentor: Komal Vig

✨ Roman Lockett
Applied Physics student at The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mentor: Gabe Xu

✨ Dewan Shafi
Physics and Mathematics student at the University of Southern Mississippi
Mentor: Rui Chen

📚 To learn more about internships, click the link in our bio
#Alabamaphysics #ripp #ftpp #nsffunded #internships2026
Week 1 of ISWC was awesome!! Next stop: Weekend trip to Orlando!!✈️
Syed Ayaz is a PhD student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville whose latest research focuses on how tiny charged dust particles near the Sun may help heat the solar corona and accelerate the solar wind ☀️

His newly published study provides valuable insight into the role dust particles may play in shaping solar activity, helping advance our understanding of the Sun’s outer atmosphere and the forces that influence space weather 🌌

🔗 You can find the full article in the link on our website under News to read more!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our “Drop It Like It’s Plasma” T-shirt giveaway! We loved seeing your support and enthusiasm as we count down to the International Space Weather Camp. 🚀🌌

🏆 Congratulations to our winner: @jo.we10 🏆

A huge thank you to everyone who entered, liked, shared, and helped spread the word. Stay tuned for more updates, opportunities, and exciting content from FTPP!

NSF EPSCor ftpp

About the cooperative agreement

FTPP involves a partnership comprising nine universities and a research corporation in Alabama and is funded through Cooperative Agreement OIA-2148653 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through a Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 five-year grant within the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)*. The FTPP project is overseen by the Alabama EPSCoR Steering Committee.

* Disclaimer: The opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

vision

Alabama becomes a world-renowned hub for PSE (Plasma Science Engineering) by developing transformative future technologies (such as advanced materials, food safety and sterilization, space weather prediction) and building foundational plasma science research and industry with a skilled workforce.

Mission

FTPP will build research, education, economic, and workforce capacity in pursuit of making foundational discoveries in space and laboratory plasma physics and create future societally transformative technologies in the State of AL, utilizing Alabama’s statewide expertise in plasma science and technology.